Exhorting the women folk to come forward to get the benefits of banking schemes, launched for speedy socio-economic uplift by providing loans and related facilities, social justice and empowerment minister DR Shandil on Friday said the union government after the approval of Reserve Bank of India
had already given its nod to establish women banks across the country.

Addressing the gathering after inaugurating Himachal's first women-operated branch of Punjab National Bank in Rabon area of the town, the minister while underscoring the role of banks and financial institutions in facilitating the people, especially women folk, said since the government had launched a large number of schemes to help the women folk turn self-dependent, women power should ensure their active participation in social activities, including establishing of self-help women groups.

Lauding the role of the Indian banking system to uplift the economic conditions of the people by providing various facilities and loan, Shandil urged the banks' managements to focus on establishing their branches in rural areas and provide kisan credit cards to the farming community.

He said besides providing loans in different sectors, banks should also focus to provide hassle-free loan system to the farmers and the students pursuing higher education.

PNB's general manager VK Goel said the bank had a total of 68 branches across the state. He said the Rabon branch of the bank would have only women staff that would provide all banking facilities to the customers.